Provided photo: Operation Honor flag winners include Eli Van Buren, Arian Cayea and Katie Olinger.

MEDINA –  The second annual Operation Honor 5k run/walk was Saturday and raised $4,000 in much-needed funds for the Orleans County Joint Veterans Council Van Service.

The money was raised through sponsorships and participation fees to be in the race/walk that started at the Junior Wilson’s Sportsmen’s Club on Bates Road.

Sarah Levanduski-Surdel and Jenn Thom organized the second annual event and thanked the sponsors, participants and volunteers.

First place in the 5k run was shared by the male winners Arian Cayea and Jack Hill who tied with a time of 18:04. The first female winner was Katie Olinger who clocked in with a 25:49. Cayea and Hill donated their first place American flag prize to the third place winner Eli Van Buren.

Funds from this year’s event will provide support to keep the vans running and replacing them when needed. The medical van service is an all-volunteer organization from office staff to drivers and provides transportation to medical appointments to over 1,600 veterans yearly with over 4,800 hours of volunteer service.

Heaviest snowfall rates, worst travel expected Monday afternoon through Monday night

Photo by Tom Rivers: A mud-covered leak was in the grass at the Knox Farm State Park in East Aurora on Friday. More than 1,000 cross country runners competed at the park, and turned parts of it into muddy trails.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for Orleans County and Western New York from 8 a.m. Monday to 6 a.m. on Tuesday.

Heavy snow expected with accumulations of 6 to 10 inches on the Niagara Frontier. The greatest accumulations expected inland from the Buffalo metro area, the Weather Service said.

“Travel could be very difficult,” the Weather Service said. “Conditions will deteriorate during the day Monday, with the heaviest snowfall rates and worst travel from late Monday afternoon through Monday night.”

Nate McMurray

Nate McMurray, a Democrat who lost a close election about a year ago to Chris Collins, has been endorsed by the Orleans County Democratic Party chairwoman.

Jeanne Crane, leader of the Orleans County Democrats, joins four other Democratic Party leaders in endorsing McMurray in an upcoming special election to fill a vacancy in the 27^thCongressional District.

Collins resigned in September ahead of a guilty plea in federal court in a case about insider trading.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo hasn’t set a date for the special election to fill the vacancy.

“I am so pleased to support Nate in the upcoming special election,” Crane said. “He has visited Orleans County many times and is very aware of what our small county faces every day … few jobs, lack of affordable housing, and high taxes. We need Nate!”

McMurray, the current Grand Island town supervisor, also works as vice president of Business Development for Delaware North. He has also been endorsed by the Democratic Party leaders in Niagara, Wyoming, Monroe, and Genesee counties.

“I am excited to have Jeanne Crane and the Orleans County Democrats with me as I run for Congress,” he said in a statement. “For the last few years, Western New York has not had the representation it deserved in Congress, and it hurt our working families and economy. I am ready to be the fighter we need to deliver healthcare access, jobs, and infrastructure investment.”

Brody Hoffmeister is 3rd generation to run popular spot in Medina

Provided photo: Brody Hoffmeister and his mother Kelly Duffield are shown together in this recent photo.

MEDINA – One of Medina’s most popular and enduring restaurants lost its leader last month with the death of Kelly Duffield. She was 49 when she passed away on Oct. 21, after a 2 ½ year battle with cancer.

Duffield has been a big part of Rudy’s since her parents, Debbie and Joseph Russo, opened it on May 10, 1988.

Duffield’s son Brody Hoffmeister is now running Rudy’s with help from his grandmother Debbie, as well as a dedicated group of 20-25 employees.

Hoffmeister, 25, thanked the community for its outpouring of love and support with the loss of his mother. He has received more than 500 messages on Facebook, and many cards and flowers.

“I didn’t realize how the community would be rallying behind us,” he said at Rudy’s last week just after the lunch rush. “I didn’t realize how many people my mom knew.”

His mother worked 12-15 hours or more at the diner, which opens at 7 in the morning and closes at 9 at night. She thought of the “Mojo Burger” challenge, where people can write their names on the wall in the dining room if they can eat the 1-pound burger. There are hundreds of names on the wall.

His mother led the employees, ordered food and tracked inventory, and enjoyed banter with the customers. She owned Rudy’s since 2006.

“My mom made it look easy,” Hoffmeister said. “I didn’t realize how hard this is to do.”

Hoffmeister has grown up at the diner. As a teen-ager he delivered meals to customers in the downtown, and others who might be sick or homebound. Then he washed dishes before moving up to become a cook.

Brody Hoffmeister is pictured with some of the staff in the dining room at Rudy’s. From left include Jennifer McCauley, Dawn VanLeuven and Ellie Kage.

Hoffmeister likes being in the kitchen. The past few years he has been a cook, and has also worked to implement some new technology, including computers for the ordering. Waitresses enter the orders in on a hand-held computer pad, and those orders then appear in monitors in the kitchen. On-line orders also appear on the monitors.

Hoffmeister said Rudy’s will make other improvements, but it won’t change its friendly atmosphere with classic comfort food.

“We aren’t going to the change the quality that makes us successful but we need to modernize so we can go another 30 years,” Hoffmeister said.

Brody Hoffmeister checks an order on the screen in the kitchen. Waitresses take orders on computers, and those orders them show up in the kitchen, which gets the orders to the cooks faster and more accurately. Online orders also show up on the monitors in the kitchen. Hoffmeister also said the new computer system helps him to better track inventory.

His grandparents, Debbie and Joe, opened Rudy’s on May 10, 1988. Kelly was a senior in high school when Rudy’s started. Rudy was Joe’s nickname from when he was a cook in the Vietnam War.

Joe Russo took on a big project of remodelling Rudy’s after a fire badly damaged a dairy business that was there. Joe gave it a distinctive look. It continues today with a 1950s feel inside with Leave It To Beaver posters. Joe and Debbie treasured their customers and there is a large portrait of one customer near the front entrance.

“There is just something about this building,” Hoffmeister said. “It’s the memories of the people here, including the people who aren’t here anymore. There are guys who come in here every day at the same time to meet up.”

Mr. Russo passed away on June 3.

Ellie Kage, a long-time waitress at Rudy’s, takes two lunches – beef on weck with onion rings and hamburger stroganoff, to customers last week. Kage was with Rudy’s when it opened and came back 2 ½ years ago when she moved back to the area.

Debbie Russo has been helping her grandson at Rudy’s, including with some of the ordering.

“He’s been doing a good job,” she said about Hoffmeister.

She also thanked the community for its support.

“That’s what keeps us here – the people,” she said. “I come here everyday and I love it. It’s home.”

Rudy’s Diner has been a mainstay with its red awnings on West Center Street.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Barker’s Serena Harris scores the first goal in the Lady Raiders 6-1 victory over East Rochester in the Class C Far West Regional this morning at Williamsville North.

Getting goal production from five players Barker captured a second straight Class C Far West Regional field hockey championship by romping past East Rochester 6-1 this morning at Williamsville North.

The victory propells Barker into the Class C state semifinals against Bronxville (Section 1) at 11 a.m. next Saturday at Williamsville North. Bronxville advanced with a 5-0 regional win over Taconic Hills (Section IX) this morning.

The Barker scoring parade included two goals by Ciara Gregoire along with one each by Serena Harris, Natalie Bruning, Rachel Hurtgam and Madison Gancasz.

Katrina Clare chipped in with four assists for the Lady Raiders giving her a team leading total of 21 on the season as Gancasz had two and Aaliyah Wheat one.

Barker goalie Courtney Hillman knocks a shot attempt away.

“We got contributions from a lot of players which was great,” said Barker Coach Jeff Costello.

Courtney Hillman made 8 saves in goal for the Lady Raiders.

Barker built up a commanding 4-0 lead at the half as a quick three goal scoring burst in the final 11 minutes broke the contest wide open for the Lady Raiders.

Harris gave Barker a 1-0 lead when she scored her fourth goal of the season at 17:08 off a nice centering pass from Clare.

Bruning made it 2-0 with her fifth goal of the campaign at 11:07 off another assist from Clare, a tally which ignited a burst of three goals in 10 minutes.

Hurtgam followed up with her 12th goal of the season at 3:34 from Gancasz and then Gancasz scored herself, her fifth of the campaign, at 1:10 from Clare to round out the decisive scoring burst.

“I thought we passed the ball really well in the first half,” said Costello. “We moved the ball down field really well and got off some hard shots.”

Gregoire rounded out the Barker scoring parade with two goals in the first 13 minutes off the second half, her 16th and 17th of the season. She tallied at 28:02 from Wheat and again at 17:11 from Clare.

The Lady Raiders improve to 17-3 on the season with their fifth Far West Regional victory since 2010.

Barker, which had to go into overtime to nip East Rochester 4-3 in last year’s Far West Regional, advanced by downing Eden 4-0 in the Section VI Class C championship game on Tuesday.

East Rochester, which is the lone Class C team in Section V, had an automatic berth into the regional.

Click here to see the national anthem.

Click here to see Barker do their pregame cheer.

Click here to see Head Coach Jeff Costello give the halftime speech.

Click here to see Madison Gancasz score Barker goal #4.

Click here to see Ciara Gregoire score goal #5

Click here to see Barker celebrate at the end of the game.

Barker’s Natalie Bruning celebrates after scoring the Lady Raiders second goal.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ORCHARD PARK – The Albion pep band was out in force to support the Albion football team during Friday’s game at New Era Field. These drummers in the pep band get ready to head inside the stadium.

They include, from left: Aubrey Boyer, Emma Tower, Abby Tucker, Olivia Morrison, Sophie Zambito, Molly Wadhams, Andrew Uderitz and Nick Perry.

These sousaphone players include Rowan Ford, Dyllan Roath and Jacob Coolbaugh.

The pep band makes its way through the security check leading into New Era, the home of the Buffalo Bills.

Angela LaGalbo and the Albion cheerleaders help fire up a large contingent from Albion.

An Albion fan is excited after a big play from the Purple Eagles. Albion lost the game, 34-20, to WNY Maritime in the Section VI Class B championship game.

The game was Albion’s first appearance in the title contest since 2002. Albion finishes the season at 8-2.

High school band teacher Michael Thaine, right, and the pep band were high energy throughout the game.

Photos courtesy of Lyndonville Central School

LYNDONVILLE – Lyndonville students interview Bob DeMallie on Friday as part of an oral history project.

The school district welcomed and honored about 40 veterans. There were veterans from each branch of the military who met with middle and high school students to discuss their lives before, during and after the military.

Students listened intently as veterans shared memories and answered questions. The students will create a report for each interview and incorporate them into a book to share with the district.

State Assemblyman Steve Hawley was among the veterans who shared some of his experiences. He served seven years in the Ohio Army National Guard and the US Army Reserves.

He has been a member the past nine years of the Assembly Veterans’ Affairs Committee and sponsored legislation to aid veterans and current service personnel. During his keynote speech, Hawley reflected on his father’s military service in World War II and discussed his annual Patriot Trip to Washington D.C.

Hawley presented Lyndonville Central School with a NYS Assembly Citation in recognition of the district’s First Annual Veterans Day Program. The district also received recognition from NYS Senator Robert Ortt for celebrating Veterans Day and honoring those who have served the country.

Local veterans check in on Friday morning for the event at the former elementary school.

“The project was a meaningful way for students to understand the dedication of our military personnel and the sacrifices they have made for our freedom,” said Superintendent Jason Smith.

The district would like to thank all the veterans who participated in this year’s Veterans Day Project and Laura Moore, fifth-grade teacher, and local veteran Bob DeMallie for project coordination and assistance. The district looks forward to hosting the event again next year.

Lyndonville students welcomed veterans for the event on Friday.

(Editor’s Note: There is 5K run and walk this morning at 11 to benefit the Veterans Van Service in Orleans County. This second annual event starts at the Junior Wilson’s Sportsmen’s Club on Bates Road in Medina. Click here for more information.)

“Overlooked Orleans” – Vol. 5, No. 42

ALBION – This photograph, taken sometime around 1900, shows the New York Central Railroad crossing at Clinton Street in Albion looking east towards Main Street. The photographer is standing on the platform of the train station on Clinton Street in an attempt to showcase two important businesses in the vicinity.

On the right is the business of Morgan & Linson, started in 1887 by Benjamin Franklin Morgan who purchased the operation from Sheldon & Warner. Morgan, a son of William Pitts Morgan and native of Gaines, then brought Lyman Sewall Linson into a partnership in 1890.

Linson was an 1876 graduate of New York University who attended the University of Pennsylvania to study law before working out west in the railroad industry. His return to Albion and entrance into the partnership with Morgan likely brought a level of expertise required for shipping goods by way of rail. The pair dealt in coal, mason’s supplies (lime and cement), and produce, focusing specifically on the storage and shipment of apples and beans.

Morgan & Linson constructed additional coal sheds at this facility in 1900, which included the implementation of an elevator used to lift coal for storage in bins located on the upper floors of the building. Coal was then dropped down chutes and into wagons for delivery to homes throughout the area. Morgan’s death at New York City in 1909 following a lengthy illness led to the eventual dissolution of the partnership. In 1917, Guy Merrill, Platt LaMont, and Elbert Rowley formed the Morgan & Linson Cold Storage Company, Inc., taking over the property and operating the business; Linson retained partial interest in the company.

Around 1941 this building was devastated by a fire during a period of time in which the Atlantic Commission Company was leasing the facility to store onions. Workmen backed a cart into a kerosene stove, knocking it into a coal bin, which started a small fire. The flames were quickly extinguished and the men returned to work unloading a freight car outside. The flames reignited and the alarm was sounded. 50,000 bushels of onions were destroyed but thankfully the brick cold storage building and office was saved from obliteration. Eight firemen were stationed at the facility overnight to quell any flames that started up.

To the left is the Albion House, one of Albion’s larger hotels along with the Orleans House and Exchange Hotel. The photograph shows five young children seated on the front steps and two men seated on the corner of building adjacent to a sign that reads “Reed & Allen, American Rochester Beer;” likely the entrance to the bar. Attached to the tree out front is a sign that reads “Livery.” Like many hotels in the area, hackney cabs (horse drawn taxis) were offered to pick up or drop off visitors at various stops in Albion. The barn that housed the horses at the Albion House was sold in 1922 to Albert Foote, who relocated the building to his farm in Barre.

One other interesting item in this photograph is the small shed located along the railroad tracks; another is visible in the distance located along Main Street. These flagman’s shanties were an essential feature at railroad crossings. Approximately eight feet across and constructed in a hexagonal shape, the buildings contained a small coal burning stove, a bench seat, and a small stock of coal located under the bench. Men would sit inside of these shanties for eight hours each shift, three each day, exiting the building to stop road traffic as trains were crossing. Although the job seemed simple, it was frequently dangerous as flagmen were responsible for observing road and rail traffic simultaneously. In 1926, Thomas Coffey was struck and killed by a train while working as the flagman at this crossing. Negligence or lack of awareness was harmful, if not fatal.

An interesting news story appeared in papers throughout Western New York in 1908. Morgan & Linson’s office cat went missing and it was feared by the owners that the cat had climbed into a boxcar, only to be carried off to some far-off place. A telegram was sent immediately to Cincinnati, the next stop for the produce that was being shipped. Soon after the telegram was sent, a response was received notifying the owners that the tabby was found within one of the boxcars having survived eight days without food or water. To make the story more remarkable, the cat was returned to Albion by express train that same day.

I’m not sure what is more interesting, the fact that the cat was rapidly returned to Albion, or that this was considered “news” at the time!

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Deyonci Farley scores his first touchdown during the Purple Eagles 34-20 loss to WNY Maritime this evening in the Section VI Class B championship game at New Era Field.

A big second half comeback bid fell short as No. 3 seed Albion dropped a 34-20 decision to top seeded WNY Maritime in the Section VI Class B championship game this evening at New Era Field.

Trailing by 20 at 26-6 early in the third quarter Albion came battling back.

The Purple Eagles first cut the deficit to 26-14 on a 25 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Thomas Furmanski to Kevin Hillman and a two-point conversion run by Brillance Johnson with 7:49 to go in the quarter. A 22 yard kickoff return by Hillman and a 16 yard run by Johnson set up that scoring opportunity.

Maritime then gambled and lost on a fourth down play at midfield giving Albion excellent field position but the Purple Eagles were unable to capitalize.

However, the Albion defense again came up with a huge play, this time on a fumble recovery by Chris Shabazz at the Albion 30 yard line, and this time the Purple Eagles offense did capitalize.

A big fourth down 7 yard pass completion from Furmanski to Shabazz kept what turned out to be a 70 yard scoring drive alive. The march was then capped off by a big 24 yard touchdown run by Deyonci Farley who burst clean up the middle on the play with 6:54 to go in the fourth quarter slicing the deficit to 26-20.

Albion’s Tyray White stretches for extra yardage as Maritime’s Devaughn Holmes comes in to make the tackle.

“Our kids kept battling and didn’t give up,” said Albion Coach Adam Krenning. “Our kids have battled like that all season.”

However, the Purple Eagles comeback hopes were dashed seconds later as Maritime’s Reuben Hampton returned the ensuing  kickoff some 75 yards down to the Albion 1. On the very next play Hampton plunged over for the touchdown upping the Maritime lead to 12 at 32-20 with just 6:38 remaining, just 16 seconds after the Albion TD.

“That was a dagger to the heart. That took the wind out of our sails,” said Krenning of the big kickoff return. “Their speed is impressive.”

The Purple Eagles got the ball back two more times but could get no closer than the Maritime 45 which was where the first drive was halted on downs.

Another fumble recovery by Shabazz then got the ball right back for the Purple Eagles at the Albion 10 but an errant snap resulted in a safety giving Maritime a 34-20 lead with just 1:38 to go.

Maritme also got off to a quick start grabbing a 12-0 first quarter lead on a 60 yard punt return by Addison Copeland and a 1 yard run by Maurice Vaughn.

Albion did answer back with a 5 yard touchdown run by Farley with 5:29 to go in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 12-6 but the six point margin would be as close as the Purple Eagles would get. Runs of 19 yards by Farley and of 15 and 11 by Johnson highlighted the drive.

Maritime again answered the challenge on a 16 yard touchdown run and two-point conversion carry by John Washington with just 26 seconds to go to take a 20-6 advantage into the half.

Maritime then upped its lead to 26-6 three and a half minutes into the third quarter on a 1 yard touchdown run by Vaughn, a lead which proved to be just too much for Albion to overcome. A 30 yard pass from Washington to Demetrius Potts down to the Albion 1 keyed that drive.

Albion answered back with two scores to again cut the deficit to just 6 at 26-20 but another huge special teams play on the 75 yard kickoff return then keyed Maritime to a clinching touchdown.

“I’m proud of every one of you,” Krenning told his charges afterwards. “You have nothing to hang your heads about. You did yourselves and your community proud. Be proud of this moment.”

Maritime advances to the Far West Regional with a 9-1 record while Albion, which was making its first appearance in the title contest since 2002, finishes the season at 8-2.

The Albion trio of Tyray White, Michael DiCureia and Chris Shabazz tackle Maritime’s Maurice Vaughn.

Albion Police Chief Roland Nenni discusses the arrest of three middle school students at a press conference this afternoon.

‘The campus is safe. This threat has been mitigated.’ – Albion Police Chief Roland Nenni

ALBION – Three Albion students have been charged with felonies for conspiring to harm fellow classmates and staff at Carl I. Bergerson Middle School.

The students, whose names will not be released due to their youth, are all facing the charge of 2nd Degree Conspiracy, a class B felony. They are accused of conspiring to commit murder against at least one other student at the school.

Albion Police Chief Roland Nenni held a press conference today at the Village of Albion offices to discuss the charges. He was joined by Orleans County District Attorney Joe Cardone, Albion School Superintendent Michael Bonnewell, Albion Mayor Eileen Banker, and several representatives from the New York State Police, the Orleans County Probation Department, and the Orleans County Department of Mental Health.

“We averted a crisis in the Albion school,” Nenni said. “The school is safe.”

The students allegedly used Discord, a social media platform for gamers, to make grave physical threats to at least one other student. The threats spread to other social media platforms as the threads were shared, and Albion police were tipped off on Monday. Nenni said that the police immediately increased their presence at the school, and that the suspects were apprehended shortly thereafter.

Police seized various items that included legally-purchased firearms. Nenni gave no further details on the seized items, citing the ongoing investigation.

Conspiracy in the Second Degree is more serious than a simple threat. It implies that the parties involved have committed at least one overt act to conspire to commit a felony, in this case murder. Nenni said that the students had chosen a date to act out their plans. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.

The students have been suspended from school, according to Bonnewell. They are not in police custody at this time, which is the usual case for minors. Cardone said the case has been referred to the Probation Department and Family Court, and that the students’ families have been cooperating with the investigation.

Nenni credited the community for bringing the matter to the police’s attention. He urged parents to continue to monitor their children’s online activities, and he invited the public to continue to report unusual activity to the police so they can act quickly to avert threats. The district’s Threat Assessment Team – with assistance from the Albion Police Department, Orleans County Mental Health Department, Orleans County District Attorney’s Office and a specialist from the FBI – were able to act quickly to neutralize the situation.

Photo courtesy of Albion Central School: Albion Board of Education members recently toured the mobile dental unit, which visits local schools. Pictured from left include BOE members Margy Brown, Elissa Nesbitt, Linda Weller, Mobile Dental Unit Coordinator Denise Beardsley, BOE President Kathy Harling and Karen Watt, chairwoman of the board for Oak Orchard Health.

Press Release, Albion Central School

ALBION – For 15 years the Albion school district has partnered with Oak Orchard Health to provide oral health services to Albion students and their families.

The services take place during school hours and are intended for students that do not have a dentist. The unit accepts insurances and provides a sliding fee based on family income.

The mobile dental unit visits the school district every year for a couple of months to provide cleanings, dental exams, x-rays, and fluoride applications for cavity prevention. If needed, they also provide fillings, extractions, sealants and stainless steel crowns.

New this year, they are providing vision screenings for students. The simple screen can help identify if a child has vision issues and needs further evaluation. To date, 45 students have used the new vision screening service.

Oak Orchard Health Board Member Karen Watt and Mobile Dental Unit Coordinator Denise Beardsley recently offered tours of the unit to school staff and board members. Margy Brown, Kathy Harling, Elissa Nesbitt, and Linda Weller toured the facility before Monday’s BOE meeting. They were impressed with the services offered by Oak Orchard and commended them for their work serving Albion families.

For more information about this service or to schedule an appointment, contact Denise Beardsley at dbeardsley@oochc.org or call her at 585-267-9236.

LYNDONVILLE — Students will spend part of today interviewing Lyndonville area veterans as part of a new oral history program at the school.

Students in grades 5 and 11 will be talking with veterans today at the former elementary school.

They will start his morning at 9:30 and will be together until just after lunch.

About 35 to 40 veterans will be at the school to share their experiences with students.

“You need not to have seen combat to be part of this program as we feel that all who wore the uniform have made their contribution and have a story to tell,” the district said in a letter to veterans. That letter was signed by Jason Smith, district superintendent, and Laura Moore, a fifth grade teacher.

State Assemblyman Steve Hawley will also give a keynote speech. He is a veteran, serves on the Assembly’s Veterans’ Affairs Committee and leads local veterans each September on a Patriot Trip to see memorials in Washington, D.C.

Voters in the Town of Barre had the highest turnout among the 10 Orleans County towns in the recent election.

Barre, at 51.2 percent turnout, topped 50 percent, which is unusual in a local election. Countywide, the turnout was 34.8 percent, with 8,048 voters going to the polls out of 23,183 registered voters. That rate was less than the 38.2 percent turnout for local elections in both 2015 and 2017.

In Barre, 645 of the 1,260 registered voters cast a ballot on election day, and also, for the first time, during nine days of early voting. Countywide there were 374 people who voted during the nine days of early voted. That accounted for 1.6 percent of the registered voters in the county.

Bare had seven candidates seeking three spots for the Town Board. That was the most intense election day battle among the 10 towns.

Most of the positions on the ballot throughout the county did not have opposition. At four towns – Albion, Carlton, Kendall and Yates – there weren’t any contested races.

That is reflected in the turnout there. Albion had the lowest voting rate at 30.0 percent.

Ridgeway, which had three candidates for town supervisor, had the second lowest turnout at 31.1 percent.

Here is a breakdown of turnout at the 10 towns.

Source: Orleans County Board of Elections; Orleans Hub calculations.

The position of sheriff was likely the most profile race in the county, but only one candidate, Chris Bourke, was on the ballot. He received 78.4 percent of the vote and withstood a write-in campaign. Brett Sobieraski lost a close Republican Primary to Bourke on June 25. Many of his supporters pushed him as a write-in candidate. There were 1,570 write-in votes. Bourke, the current undersheriff, received 5,693 votes.

Of the seven county legislator seats, six were unopposed. Don Allport of Gaines was challenged by Chase Tkach, a Libertarian Party candidate. Allport received 87.8 percent of the vote.

Donate a dollar and you can ring the bell

MEDINA – A brief history of education in the area will explain the significance of a bell, which is currently on display at Lee-Whedon Library.

The bell is temporarily at the library while the school district considers the best place to display it. Medina High School superintendent Mark Kruzynski said he is excited about the prospects of the bell being returned to the high school.

While it’s at the library, people have a chance to ring the bell from noon to 1 p.m. each day for a donation of $1, which will benefit the Medina Historical Society.

The bell originally sat atop Medina Free Academy on Catherine Street, the site which from 1923 to 1991 became Medina High School. When the Academy building was razed in 1922, the bell was stored in the basement of Central School on South Academy Street.

After fire destroyed Central School in 1967, contractor Carl Petronio Jr. was hired to clean up the rubble and discovered the bell. He removed it to storage and recently donated it to the Medina Historical Society.

Realizing the significance of the bell, former Historical Society president Craig Lacey contacted Barnes Metal Finishing Company, which restored the bell to its former grandeur.

Lee-Whedon Memorial Library director Catherine Cooper provided the history of education in the Medina area.

Foremost, it should be noted that the Medina School System operates the longest continuous free education program in Orleans County and the third longest in New York State, following New York City and Lockport.

Land settlement in this area dates back to 1810. Once early settlers had cleared the trees to build a shelter and began tilling the soil, their next priority was for the provision of education. Betsy Murdock taught the first local school in the summer of 1814. Her school was located in a barn on Ridge Road, which still stands today.

With the advent of the Erie Canal, a population began to grow in what became the village of Medina. The first purpose-built school was a log cabin erected in 1826.

When the village was incorporated in 1832, the population was between 700 and 800 people. School classes were held in the Presbyterian Church, then located on the corner of Cross Street (now Pearl Street) and West Street (now West Avenue). This is the current location of Kwik Fill.

In 1836, a single story stone school was erected behind the current Walsh Hotel. This building was later expanded and became the arsenal for local militia and later a staging area for Civil War soldiers.

Lee-Whedon Memorial Library director Catherine Cooper holds a poster with pictures of the early schools in Medina. The building at top is the original Medina Free Academy, on which can be seen the school bell. The bell is now the property of Medina Historical Society. It has been refinished and is on display at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library. It will be transferred to Medina High School in the near future, as soon as a site can be determined to display it.

Secondary education was provided by private, fee-based academies such as those in Albion, Millville and Yates. Legislation passed in 1851 and 1853 significantly changed the educational system. An amended act of the New York State Legislature on April 10, 1850 allowed a school to combine the features of both a district and a high school. The Union School Act of 1853 allowed the municipality to tax inhabitants to fund a school and to form a board of education to govern it.

At that time, there were only two other high schools operating in New York state. One was in Lockport and the other in New York City. Medina was the first village in Orleans County and in Western New York to adopt this form of higher education and to provide secondary education free to the children of residents.

The Medina Free Academy was built in 1851 of Medina sandstone. It was located on Catherine Street, site of the former Medina High School which was used from 1923 to 1991 and was situated on land which had been donated by Silas Burroughs. The Academy consisted of six rooms, employed six teachers and educated both primary and secondary students. Enrollment was between 300 and 400 students.

An 1892 enlargement of that original building doubled the size of the school. It accommodated 19 teachers and vastly improved classroom conditions. In April 1895, the district was made a “Union Free District,” and a new high school, referred to as Central School, was built in 1896.

The Academy building then became the elementary school. It was razed in 1922 to make way for a larger high school. At that point, Central School reverted to an elementary school. It was that building which was destroyed by fire in 1967, and where the bell was found.

MEDINA – The two new honorees of Medina’s Distinguished Alumni, who both graduated in 1998, praised their upbringing in Medina and a nurturing small school for preparing them for rigorous careers.

Anne Joynt and Dr. Leanne (Hermann) Olshavsky were both recognized today at Medina High School during a ceremony in front of the student body. Both have achieved excellence in their careers.

Joynt is a junior partner with Lipsitz & Ponterio, LLC, a law firm in Buffalo. She represents people who have suffered injuries as a result of exposure to asbestos, as well as those affected by childhood lead poisoning, motor vehicle accidents, construction accidents, medical malpractice and defective products.

Joynt, the daughter of retired Oak Orchard Elementary School Principal Cathy Joynt, has been named Woman Lawyer of the Year by Women Lawyers of Western New York. She recently served as president of the Western New York Chapter of the Women’s Bar Association, a statewide organization with 20 member chapters dedicated to the advancement of women in the law and in society. (Her first job when she was a teen-ager was at Blissett’s in Medina as a sales associate.)

Anne Joynt urged the students at the Medina assembly to follow a creed of kindness in how they treat others in their professional and personal lives.

Medina may be a small school, but Joynt said that environment fosters enduring friendships.

She had an opportunity to visit Europe as a student at Medina, and that experience instilled a love for travel and seeing the world. Also at Medina, she was challenged in the school’s English Department, and that led her to pursue an undergraduate English degree at Geneseo State College before she went to law school at the University of Buffalo.

Joynt said she was thrilled to be recognized by the school on the same day Medina honored one of her classmates, Dr. Leanne (Hermann) Olshavsky, an obstetrician and gynecologist in Cincinnati at The Christ Hospital.

Dr. Leanne (Hermann) Olshavsky is congratulated by Michael Cavanagh, the high school principal.

Olshavsky earned her undergraduate degree from Miami University in Ohio. She attended medical school and completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, where she was also chief resident.

“My love for science started in this building,” she told Medina students today.

She urged them to not be motivated by mere happiness, but to search for meaningfulness in their careers and personal lives.

A focus on meaningfulness ultimately leads to long-term happiness, with a connection to a larger purpose over dollar signs, she said.

Olshavsky also is in Medina’s athletic hall of fame. She said there isn’t a “one size fits all” path to meaningfulness.

The two distinguished alumni were praised as examples for Medina students. Michael Cavanagh, the high school principal, said the two alumni show the power of working hard and completing tasks.

“With persistence anything is possible,” he said.

Medina accepts nominations for distinguished alumni each year by July 31. Then a committee of current and former teachers and administrators, and alumni will review the nominations and select the inductees. The ceremony is held in the fall during a school assembly.

Cavanagh said the school wants to honor alumni, promote school spirit and pride, and pick alumni who can inspire current students.

The A’Cappella Select Ensemble, led by Rachel Trillizio, performed “God Bless America.”